Vernon city councillor gets frosty over Frosty

Dec 16, 2019 | 4:31 PM

Chilling words were thrown during Monday’s council meeting from Vernon city councillor Akbal Mund, just days after the frosty debacle.

Coun. Mund defended the city’s bylaw department and said they were only doing their job.

“They noted a safety concern, with a cord running across the sidewalk and they brought it up with the owner. Of course the owner wasn’t happy with that,” he said

Mund blasted Vernon Teach and Learn’s decision to air the issue on social media before resolving it with the city and understanding local bylaws

“What concerns me is instead of trying to deal with the problem, the owner decides to post on social media. When you post on social media what you get is basically shame on all these people passing judgement without factual information. The factual information on this is you do need a permit if you are going to have an inflatable somewhere,” he said.

Charger rollout

Phased approach planned for EV chargers at Vernon ALC

54m ago

Secondary Dwellings

Coldstream considering more housing on agricultural lands

3h ago

Wildfire Risks

Okanagan's Fire Danger Rating already up to Moderate

Apr 23, 2026

Frosty words were also thrown at the media for picking up the story.

“Shame on the media for jumping on it like its the biggest story in the world without gathering the information.”

“When we get something like this it also hurts the city, in terms of tourism it made Global National. And you know when stories like this get out, it’s nuts, is what it is.”

Mund also doubted the store owner’s claim that the inflatable has been there for eight years.

”I think it’s a new inflatable and to say that it’s been there for eight years is incorrect. It hasn’t been tied onto public property which it was. I do believe an inflatable if you read the bylaw has to be secured at two points. It was secured at one. The reason it needs to be secured at two is if you get a strong wind and it breaks off, well now you are causing more issues with safety concerns and traffic,” he said.

Upon visiting the store earlier today, he stated he noticed another safety concern.

”I know they originally had carpet on there but in the snow here, I don’t think they would be going out every half hour to clean up the snow so that people can actually see it wasn’t a pile of snow but just a cord. You know people could have tripped on it and broken a bone.”

Mund finished his argument by saying it’s imperative for the public to reach out to the city to come to a resolve to their issues as opposed to social media.

“Council here, we will do the right thing, but when you have owners going out there stating misinformation it’s not right, and it doesnt help bylaw who continue to go by and try to do the right thing.”

by Tiffany Goodwein

View Comments